Are you ready to challenge your eyes and your brain at the same time? Here’s a visual riddle that has left countless people scratching their heads: a beautifully drawn landscape hiding a total of 9 animals — or is it 10?
This kind of image puzzle is designed to test not just your attention to detail but also how your brain processes visual information. Before scrolling down to see the solution, take a moment to really study the image. Can you find them all? Don’t rush — take your time. Once you’re done, keep reading to see how you did and why only 10% of viewers catch every animal.
Why Do So Many People Get It Wrong?

You might be thinking, “This can’t be that hard,” but here’s the twist — this puzzle plays tricks on your perception.
A few common mistakes people make when trying to solve it:
- They look too fast: Our brains are wired to seek out patterns and familiar shapes. When something doesn’t immediately match a known form, we tend to skip over it.
- They stop at the obvious: Many viewers stop after finding 3–5 animals, assuming that’s all there is. But this image demands patience and persistence.
- They overlook blending techniques: The artist has cleverly blended some animals into trees, rocks, and even shadows. That’s where the real challenge lies.
The biggest reason people miss the full set of animals? They don’t pay enough attention to the details.
How to Solve the Hidden Animal Puzzle: A Step-by-Step Guide
Let’s walk through the image together and spot each hidden animal — yes, there are 10, not just 9 as the puzzle claims!
Video : Find The 20 Hidden Animals – Quiz
1. Smoking Man
This is actually the first “figure” many miss because they’re too focused on finding animals. On the far left of the image, you can see a man with a hat and pipe outlined by the negative space of the tree and bushes.
2. Bull
Look at the top left tree. The branches and leaves are cleverly shaped to form the face and horns of a bull.
3. Parrot
Just under the bull, a bright parrot shape stretches along the branch. The colors and outline are more abstract, but the beak gives it away.
4. Rooster
Mid-left side, near the tree trunk. The rooster’s head and body blend into the lighter background, but its shape is quite clear if you follow the lines.
5. Fox
Down low in the left bottom corner, there’s a reddish shape with a pointed snout and tail. That’s the fox, partially hidden in the grass.
6. Elephant
Dead center of the image is an unmistakable elephant, colored pink. This one’s much more visible, likely meant as a confidence booster for those solving the puzzle.
7. Deer
Just under the elephant’s trunk, nestled in blue. The antlers are short, and it’s low to the ground.
8. Goose
Top right corner — look at the sky and tree branch shape. The long neck and body of the goose stretch horizontally.
9. Horse
Beneath the goose and partially hidden in green, the horse has its head turned slightly to the side. This one throws off a lot of people.
10. Crocodile
At the bottom right, blending into the darker area under the tree and rocks. Its long snout and body lie close to the ground, easily mistaken for part of the background.
So, while the image claims there are 9 hidden animals, the actual count is 10 — including the smoking man, which many miss entirely.

Let’s Talk Strategy: How to Spot Hidden Images in Puzzles Like This
Still struggling to find all the elements even after knowing where they are? Here’s how to improve:
- Slow down your observation. Scan from left to right, top to bottom — like you’re reading.
- Look at negative space. Sometimes the shapes aren’t drawn — they’re created by the gaps around other objects.
- Flip the image or view it from a distance. This can help break your brain out of its pattern-recognition habits.
- Break it into zones. Mentally divide the image into a grid and inspect each section.
- Use color contrasts. The colors in this image help define some animals. Notice where the colors change — those are often clues.
Now It’s Your Turn – Join the Conversation!
So how many did you spot before reading the breakdown? Did you see all 10? Or were you stuck at 4 or 5? Don’t worry — most people are!
Drop your answer in the comments and tell us which animal was hardest for you to find. Did you get tricked by the smoking man? Or did the crocodile completely escape your view?
Video : Can you spot the hidden animal ?
And hey — if you love this kind of visual brain-teaser, you’re in luck. There are tons of similar puzzles that can help sharpen your perception, improve your attention to detail, and even boost your logic skills. The more you do, the better you get.
Conclusion: Train Your Brain With Visual Challenges
This seemingly simple picture proves that perception isn’t always reality. What looks like a peaceful landscape is actually full of cleverly hidden animals — and solving it takes more than just sharp eyes. It requires patience, strategy, and a willingness to look beyond the obvious.
Whether you spotted all 10 or just a few, give yourself credit for trying. Keep training your brain with more puzzles like this one — you’ll be amazed how quickly your mind gets sharper.
So go ahead — share this with a friend, challenge them to spot all the animals, and see who wins. And don’t forget to comment with your final count. Who knows? You might just be among the elite 10% who see what others miss.
Ready for your next challenge? Stay curious, keep looking deeper, and never stop puzzling.
My MIL Shamed Me in Front of the Whole Family for ‘Not Bringing Enough’ to Her Birthday Party—After I Cooked the Entire Meal

When my MIL turned 60, she threw a classy family dinner and sent out dish assignments. I was told to make five gourmet dishes from scratch. I cooked all day… only to be publicly shamed during the toast. Little did she know, I had something in my purse that would cut her down to size.
I knew I was in trouble when the “dish assignment” text came through. It was longer than my wedding vows, formatted with bullet points and everything.

A woman holding a cell phone | Source: Pexels
My mother-in-law was turning 60, a milestone she’d decided to celebrate with what she called a “classy family dinner party.”
She’d already declared it would be a formal, themed event with all the cooking done “with love by the family.”
Which sounded fair enough. Nobody should have to cook for their own birthday party, but I understood there was more to what Sandra was saying.

A thoughtful woman | Source: Midjourney
In Sandra-speak, that meant we would do all the work and she’d take all the credit. Just like last Thanksgiving, when my SIL complimented the sweet potato casserole I made, and Sandra replied, “Thank you! It did turn out well, didn’t it?”
She may not have overtly claimed the credit, but Sandra was a master of speaking in implications.
I scrolled through the text, seeing the usual pattern.

A woman using her phone | Source: Pexels
Sandra had told both her daughters to bring wine. Her niece was expected to bring bread rolls, and her son, my husband, just had to bring his appetite.
My assignment was right at the bottom.
“Mandy, you’ll bring a three-layer veggie lasagna (with homemade pasta sheets)
Quinoa & beet salad with goat cheese
Two dozen falafel with dipping sauces
Lemon-blueberry bundt cake
Caprese skewers with fresh pesto drizzle.”

A woman staring at her phone in shock | Source: Midjourney
And then, the kicker: “Everything MUST be made from scratch. No shortcuts!” In bold. As if I’d consider using store-bought pesto for Her Royal Highness’s birthday dinner.
I walked over to my husband, who was sprawled on the couch watching basketball.
“Is this a joke?” I asked, waving my phone at him.
He glanced up briefly. “What?”

A man looking at someone | Source: Midjourney
I thrust the phone closer. “This list from your mother. She expects me to make five dishes from scratch for her birthday. Five! Your sisters are just bringing wine.”
He shrugged and turned back to the game. “It’s her birthday, babe.”
“That’s all you have to say?” I could feel my blood pressure rising. “Do you know how much work this is?”

An annoyed woman with her head in her hands | Source: Midjourney
“Mom always gives you the complicated stuff because you’re the best cook,” he said, like that was supposed to be a compliment.
“And that doesn’t strike you as unfair? At all?”
Another shrug. “That’s just how she is.”
His apathy said everything.

A man smiling apologetically | Source: Midjourney
This was normal to him. I cooked, everyone ate, and Sandra claimed all the praise. The cycle continued, and I was expected to just… go with it.
So I did. For two days before the party, I cooked, boiled, chopped, sautéed, and baked.
As I whisked the goat cheese dressing, I kept thinking about Thanksgiving and that sweet potato casserole.

A whisk beside a bowl of dressing | Source: Pexels
Having Sandra steal credit for a single dish was one thing, but I was practically catering her party for free.
She wouldn’t dare pull that stunt this time, would she?
By the time I finished, our kitchen looked like a cooking show had exploded in it. Every surface was covered in flour, beet juice, or olive oil.

Spilled flour around a pasta maker | Source: Pexels
But the food? The food looked amazing. I carefully packed each dish in containers, labeling them with heating instructions. I was exhausted but proud.
“Did you have to make the pasta from scratch?” my husband asked, surveying the kitchen disaster.
“Your mother specified ‘no shortcuts,’” I replied.

A woman looking over her shoulder while speaking | Source: Midjourney
“You went all out,” he said, lifting the lid on the bundt cake. “Mom will be impressed.”
I didn’t respond. After six years, I knew better.
The night of the dinner, I arrived early with my husband, arms loaded with food containers. Sandra greeted us at the door in a stylish outfit, looking like she’d stepped out of a retirement commercial.

A haughty, well-dressed woman | Source: Midjourney
“There you are,” she said, giving me her signature air kiss somewhere near my cheek. She barely glanced at the stacked containers in my arms. “Just put those in the kitchen.”
“There are heating instructions on each one,” I told her, balancing the tower of food. “The lasagna needs about 40 minutes at 350 degrees.”
“Yes, yes,” she said, already turning away.

A woman gesturing dismissively | Source: Midjourney
In the kitchen, I carefully arranged my offerings, making sure everything looked perfect. I had even brought garnishes in separate containers to add just before serving.
The house gradually filled with family members.
Glasses clinked, conversations flowed, and eventually, Sandra announced it was time to eat. My sisters-in-law helped me carry the dishes to the dining room, where an elaborate buffet was set up.

Dishes arranged on a table buffet-style | Source: Pexels
“Wow, who made the lasagna?” Sandra’s sister asked, loading her plate.
“This falafel is incredible,” someone else called out.
From across the room, I heard Sandra’s voice, clear as day: “Oh thank you! My girls did such an amazing job this year.”
I froze, fork halfway to my mouth.

A portion of lasagna on a plate | Source: Pexels
I watched as Sandra beamed, gesturing toward her daughters. They looked confused but smiled politely.
“Are you kidding me?” I whispered to my husband. “That’s my food.”
Jeff swallowed and shot me an awkward glance. “Well, she didn’t say it wasn’t…”

A man smiling apologetically at a dinner table | Source: Midjourney
“She didn’t say it was either,” I shot back.
“Should I say something?”
There was a pleading look in his eyes that told me he was hoping I wouldn’t say “yes.”
“It’s okay,” I said quietly. “Let’s just see what happens.”
I didn’t need Jeff to stand up for me because I’d come prepared.

A woman with a confident smile | Source: Midjourney
What happened was Sandra didn’t mention me once. Not when guests raved about the bundt cake. Not when her brother-in-law went back for thirds of the falafel. Not even when her husband commented on how good the lasagna was.
Then came the toast.
Sandra tapped her glass with a spoon and rose from her chair like she was accepting an Oscar.

A woman holding a wine glass | Source: Pexels
“I want to thank everyone who helped make this evening so special,” she began, her voice carrying across the room. “Well, most of you.”
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
She raised her glass higher. “Some went above and beyond. Others just showed up.”
And then she looked right at me. In front of 20 family members. And smirked.

A woman at a dinner table smirking at someone | Source: Midjourney
That smirk was the final straw. Six decades of perfecting the art of the subtle insult had culminated in this moment — a perfectly crafted barb wrapped in a birthday toast.
I’d hoped for better, but as they say, “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”
I reached into my bag and pulled out an envelope I had brought just in case of a moment like this.

A handbag on the floor near a woman’s feet | Source: Pexels
“Actually, Sandra,” I said, standing up calmly, “I’m so glad you mentioned that.”
The room went quiet. All eyes turned to me.
“Since you were keeping track of who contributed what,” I continued, pulling out my stack of grocery receipts, “I figured we could split the cost of the $263.48 I spent making the dishes you assigned me.”

A woman holding up a receipt | Source: Pexels
I smiled sweetly. “I’ll accept Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or cash. Whichever works for you.”
A cousin choked on her wine. My husband’s younger sister giggled into her napkin. Even Sandra’s husband mumbled, “Well… fair’s fair.”
Sandra blinked rapidly, and seeing her caught off-guard like that made all those hours spent cooking worth it.

A shocked woman | Source: Midjourney
“I… I need to check on the candles for the cake,” she muttered, before fleeing to the kitchen.
My husband squeezed my hand under the table. “That was amazing,” he whispered.
“Was it too much?” I asked, suddenly worried.
“No,” he said firmly. “It was exactly enough.”

A man looking at someone | Source: Midjourney
Sandra returned, eventually, and the evening continued. She never mentioned the receipts. She never apologized. She never even looked me in the eye again that night.
I didn’t say anything else either. I didn’t need to. The room had heard it.
The next day, my sister-in-law called.

A cell phone | Source: Pexels
“You’re a legend now,” she laughed. “Mom was on the phone with Aunt Carla for an hour complaining about how you embarrassed her.”
“I didn’t mean to embarrass her,” I said, though part of me knew that wasn’t entirely true.
“Well, you did. And it was about time someone did,” she replied. “Aunt Carla agreed with you, by the way. So did Dad.”
In the weeks that followed, the story spread through the family.

Two women speaking while crossing a street | Source: Pexels
It became known as “The Receipt Incident.” Anytime a family dinner got planned, someone would joke, “Better bring your receipts, or Sandra might think you just showed up.”
She hasn’t assigned me a single dish since. Not one. At Thanksgiving, she called and specifically told me not to bring anything. At Christmas, she hired a caterer.

A table decorated for Christmas dinner | Source: Pexels
Which is totally fine by me.
Because now I bring the one thing Sandra wasn’t ready for: boundaries, served cold.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
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